What exactly is the Duluth model and why is it considered to be misandric?

Question

http://www.bwjp.org/files/bwjp/files/Countering_Confusion_Duluth_Model.pdf

I think this gives an outline of the Duluth model, but its too much for me to read and understand!
Can someone tell me, what exactly it is for and why men/anti-feminists often call it unfair towards men?

Thanks! :)

Answer 1

The Duluth Model of Violence was created by a feminist (Ellen Pence) in Duluth, Minnesota, and not surprisingly, is based on the assumption that only men initiate violence, especially domestic violence. While not it's original intent, it has been used in police training under VAWA, which means rather than taking an objective look at what the evidence indicates, there is a pre-formed assumption the male is the guilty party. This is especially problematic in states that have mandatory arrest or pro-arrest policy. As should be clear, a policy of having to make an arrest combined with an assumption males are guilty, means a lot of males being wrongfully arrested. It's been very highly criticized but as with many gender issues, feminist lobbying has been stronger than the criticism.







The “Duluth Model” represents the dominant treatment approach aligned with feminist theory.”



“It sees the root causes of intimate partner violence as the outcome of living a society that condones aggressive behaviours perpetrated by men, while socializing women to be non-violent.



http://knowledgeforgrowth.wordpress.com/2011/03/21/explaining-domestic-violence-using-feminist-theory/



“Duluth believes in gender shaming as an intervention technique.”



From “ The Duluth model: A data-impervious paradigm and a faild strategy” Published in the Journal: Science Direct:



http://lab.drdondutton.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Dutton-D.G.-Corvo-K.-2007-The-Duluth-Program_-A-flawed-and-data-impervious-paradigm.pdf





“Underpinning Duluth is an explicit assumption that, other than in "extremely rare" cases, domestic violence always has a male perpetrator and a female victim, and exists in a social context which explicitly condones and promotes that form of violence alone, as 'an inherent by-product of a male-dominated patriarchy”



“The Duluth Wheel domestic-violence re-education programme – a revised methodology for generic use

Tom Graves1 Published in “Nuance”



http://www.tomgraves.eu/download/Graves_T_Duluth.pdf





Added to Thomas' comments: Personally, I make no claim it is misandric. I claim it is based on assumptions that have been shown to be false and is used for agenda purposes creating many problems. As even Thomas stated: "The model focuses solely on the men's use of violence in abusive relationships, rather than on the behavior of all parties concerned." Anyone should be able to see the problem with this approach.



Add #2 - No we shouldn't create a competing model that assumes women are always guilty. That would be silly. Police and counselors should look at the actual facts and act appropriately based on reality, not based on some gender agenda model that does not fit the facts.

Answer 2

The Duluth Model is a program that was created to help curb domestic violence in the United States, but has long been adopted internationally. It has been proven time and time again to be effective at curbing domestic violence against women. It has even been proven to help cure some men from beating on women when used properly. Ellen Pence was largely the founder of it.



*A US study published in 2002 sponsored by the federal government found that batterers who complete programs based on the "Duluth Model," are less likely to repeat acts of domestic violence than those who do not complete any batterers intervention program

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-abusers-02-jan02,0,1147422.story?page=2



The Duluth Model is based on a "violence is patriarchal" model. The model focuses solely on the men's use of violence in abusive relationships, rather than on the behavior of all parties concerned. This helps the men to focus on changing their personal behavior in order to be nonviolent in any relationship.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duluth_model#cite_note-MTwohey-5



Why do anti-feminists and other men think it's misandric?



--I'm not totally sure why they have to cry misandry against a model that has been proven to work. They always want to throw up sexism when it comes to this, even though men by far commit the most domestic intimate partner violence. Personally, I think it's misogynistic to take the Duluth Model away. Women that abuse men can learn from the Duluth Model as well. They just want to cherry pick and undermine abuse against women. It's sick and pathetic and they're all a bunch of abuse apologists.



Edited@Common Sense: I understand your point, but that doesn't mean the Duluth Model needs to end. Instead, maybe the MRM could create a model that benefits men that are abused by women? Why would you or anybody else want to take away a model that is represented and used internationally that works?? That doesn't make any sense and it could hurt a lot of women. :(

Answer 3

It is an anti-violence model that makes two basic assumptions:



1) The man is always at fault

2) The 4th Amendment to the US Constitution is just an outdated message of liberty that no longer applies to modern society.





And, that's why it is anathema to a free society.